Featured in "History Corner"
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We were blessed with wonderful weather and a crowd for potluck and Stated Meeting. We were honored to have guests from Indiana and Florida join us. The traveling gavel did not make an appearance this month.
Subjects discussed were the presentation of a 50 year pin to be made at next months meeting. Local resident of our area, Brother Ray Fowler of Francis Drake Lodge #376, has been eligible to receive his pin but has faced some challenges in being able to get to meeting. We are planning on the presentation at the upcoming meeting and are hopeful that May will be the month to present his award. We are also in the beginning stages of organizing committees, etc., to prepare for Grand Lodge's visit in June of 2014. District 216 & 226 Officers Assn/School of Instruction will be at Orland Lodge Tue, April 16, 7pm – 9pm |
Upcoming
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April 14th 9-1
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May 4th
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Bar-B-Que! Benefit for the Shriner's
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BBQ Tickets Available At
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May 11th 6-10 a.m.
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Our History Corner
Forbestown Lodge's Past Master
N.D. Plum
Our Past Master from 1861 - 1866, 1871 - 1874 & 1877 was Nathaniel D. Plum.I haven't yet found information on where Nathaniel came from except back East, his history is of his time spent in Forbestown. Nathaniel married Harriet Forbes the daughter of Ben Forbes. In the late 1850's he was Postmaster at Forbestown, I also found him listed as a District Clerk of Forbestown in Butte County by the California Department of Public Instruction (Educational Directory).
PM Plum was part owner of the United States Hotel in Forbestown which was erected in 1851. .Mr. Plum lost $3,000 when Forbestown burned to the ground one of several times that the town burned. A pretty large chunk of money at that time. In 1855 it was written that N.D. Plum manufactured the brick for a building that was to contain several stores, a concert saloon on the first floor and a big public hall and the Masonic Lodge on the next. The building was not as elaborate as first planned... I don't know which building they referred to but it was occupied by Mr. Gaskill..
He ran for Sheriff and did serve as Sheriff although I have not yet found the actual time period of his service. The following is a write up that was in the Butte Record July 13, 1857:
N.D. Plum. This gentleman is the nominee of the Democratic party of this county for the office of Sheriff. He is a resident of Forbestown and was one of the first settlers in the county having arrived here in 1849 and subsequently in 1852 returned East for his family*.
He is generally and favorably known through out the county as a businessman, every way qualified to discharge the duties appertaining to the office of Sheriff.
His name is a tower of strength to the Democratic ticket throughout the eastern portion of the County, and will give it an imetus that will render its election by an overwhelming majority. Hi is a permanent resident and upright citizen, and his election does not admit of a doubt. end
I've been blessed to be able to read/transcribe a letter written by him to his daughter and a letter by his wife, Harriet, also written to their daughter. He writes to his daughter to let her know of the birth of Charles Francis Plum, born to Mamie.... I would assume this is a grand child. He tends to his little drug shop at this point in time (1888) and her mother is raising canaries. When Harriet writes in July of 1895 she writes of Nathaniel's impending death "I think he fully realized he was going, on friday the day before he died he reached out and put his arms around me and said "kiss me Harriet it is for the last time"....... "At your fathers funeral we had a Methodist minister and he selected the 91st Psalm, made a few remarks and prayed, the hymns were Rock of Ages and Go Bury Thy Sorrow....." sadly she writes that "The Masons did not bury your father, we did what was done our selves although they have written that they will pay all expenses of his last sickness and death."
Nathaniel Plum died May 18th, 1895. His burial is on line as him being buried at the Edgewood Cemetery in Siskiyou County California which would explain why he was not buried by Forbestown Lodge#50.
Link to photo and info on headstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25960422
*I told you he married Harriet Forbes so why would he return East for a family? Perhaps he had a previous marriage and became widowed? No answer for you at this time. The information here is what I have found written in assorted records as always there is more research to be done.
PM Plum was part owner of the United States Hotel in Forbestown which was erected in 1851. .Mr. Plum lost $3,000 when Forbestown burned to the ground one of several times that the town burned. A pretty large chunk of money at that time. In 1855 it was written that N.D. Plum manufactured the brick for a building that was to contain several stores, a concert saloon on the first floor and a big public hall and the Masonic Lodge on the next. The building was not as elaborate as first planned... I don't know which building they referred to but it was occupied by Mr. Gaskill..
He ran for Sheriff and did serve as Sheriff although I have not yet found the actual time period of his service. The following is a write up that was in the Butte Record July 13, 1857:
N.D. Plum. This gentleman is the nominee of the Democratic party of this county for the office of Sheriff. He is a resident of Forbestown and was one of the first settlers in the county having arrived here in 1849 and subsequently in 1852 returned East for his family*.
He is generally and favorably known through out the county as a businessman, every way qualified to discharge the duties appertaining to the office of Sheriff.
His name is a tower of strength to the Democratic ticket throughout the eastern portion of the County, and will give it an imetus that will render its election by an overwhelming majority. Hi is a permanent resident and upright citizen, and his election does not admit of a doubt. end
I've been blessed to be able to read/transcribe a letter written by him to his daughter and a letter by his wife, Harriet, also written to their daughter. He writes to his daughter to let her know of the birth of Charles Francis Plum, born to Mamie.... I would assume this is a grand child. He tends to his little drug shop at this point in time (1888) and her mother is raising canaries. When Harriet writes in July of 1895 she writes of Nathaniel's impending death "I think he fully realized he was going, on friday the day before he died he reached out and put his arms around me and said "kiss me Harriet it is for the last time"....... "At your fathers funeral we had a Methodist minister and he selected the 91st Psalm, made a few remarks and prayed, the hymns were Rock of Ages and Go Bury Thy Sorrow....." sadly she writes that "The Masons did not bury your father, we did what was done our selves although they have written that they will pay all expenses of his last sickness and death."
Nathaniel Plum died May 18th, 1895. His burial is on line as him being buried at the Edgewood Cemetery in Siskiyou County California which would explain why he was not buried by Forbestown Lodge#50.
Link to photo and info on headstone: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=25960422
*I told you he married Harriet Forbes so why would he return East for a family? Perhaps he had a previous marriage and became widowed? No answer for you at this time. The information here is what I have found written in assorted records as always there is more research to be done.